Electric plug construction



March 12, 1957 E. L. MASON ELECTRIC PLUG CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 28, 1955 Elmer L. Mason INVEN TOR.

BY I A Hunt];

The open end 24 of the tubular member 18 is generally ELECTRIC PLUG CONSTRUCTION recessed as designated by the numeral 26 about the inner periphery'thereof and a pair of diametrically opposed Elmer Mason Long Beach Cahf' longitudinal grooves 28 extend inwardly of the open end Application February 1955, Serial 24 of the cylindrical member 18 and terminate in 22in end wall 30 for a purpose described hereinafter. Exten 3 Claims (CL 339*97) ing inwardly from the bottom of the grooves 28 is a projection or lug 32 in each groove 28 which is spaced from the side edges thereof and positioned adjacent the open end 24 of the tubular member 18. The outer surface .This invention generally relates to an electric P of the tubular member 18 is provided with finger-gripping eellstfhetien and more specifically Provides an improved recesses or concave portions 34 for facilitating the maand novel construction in a two-piece plug construction i l i f h l i 1 connecting l 10, which may be easily disassembled for repair, replacement The central body member 14 i generally a li li Or the lihedrical member 36 having a concaved recessed portion 38 A11 j of the Preseht invention is to Provide an in one end thereof for abutment against the inner surelectrical P having 311 oiltei housing and an face of the flange 20 of the housing 18 whereby the lead inner terminal y memher together with a P of iden wires 16 may be knotted as indicated by the numeral 40 7 tical projecting contact elements wherein the contact f Sacuring the d Wires 1 1 tha plug 10 d per. elements form e Portion of the means for retaining the mitting the body member 36 to be assembled in relation two elements of the plug construction in assembled rela- 5 to the housing 13, Th body member 35 i rovided tiOIlwith a pair of longitudinally and inwardly extending Another Object. of the Pieseht invention is to Provide sockets 42 in the end thereof communicating with the an electrical Connecting P Construction including novel recessed portion 38 for receiving terminal end portions means for connecting the contact elements of the plug 44 f the l d wires 16, to the terminal ends of lead Wires without the necessity 30 h i h l surface f th body m b 36 i pr0- 0f stripping The insulation from the lead wires and then vided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal Coiling the baled Wife around a al P seiewf grooves 46 which extending substantially throughout its other important Objects of the Present invention will length and terminates adjacent the recessed end in end reside in its simplicity of Construction, ease 9f assembly walls 48. The grooves 46 have a bottom wall that is and disassembly, novel construction to prevent accidental 30 id d i h an angulatgd portion designated by the damage to the Plug, adaptation for its Particular P p numeral 50 for a purpose described hereinafter. and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing Cosh Positioned within the grooves 46 is a pair of elongated These together with other Objeets and advantages which contact elements in the nature of resilient prongs 52. will become subsequently apparent reside in the details Th prongs 52 are provided with a generally outwardly of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter bowed central portion 54 and the inner portion thereof is described and Claimed, reference being had to the received within the grooves 46 and the outer portion eempailyihg drawings forming a P hereof, wherein like thereof projects beyond the end 24- of the housing 18 as numerals refer like Paris throughout, and in which! well as the end of the body member 36 for reception in a Figure 1 is a Perspective View of the electrical P suitable female socket (not shown). As illustrated in of the P invention; Figure 5, the inner end of the prongs 52 are provided Figure 2 is an exploded Perspective View showing the with a transverse angulated portion 56 and an opening two elements of the P Construction in disassembled 58 for receiving a screw-threaded fastener 60 having the Position; pointed end 62 thereon. The screw-threaded fastener Figure 3 is a tl'aiisvel'se, Vertical seetionai View taken 60 is received within a screw-threaded bore 64 disposedsubstantially uP011 a Plane Passing along section line in the body member 36 and communicating with the of Figure sockets 42 wherein the pointed end 62 of the screw- Figui'e 4 is a longitudinal, Vertical sectional View when threaded member 60 will penetrate the insulation 66 on substantially P a Plane Passing along Section line the terminal end 44 of the lead wires 16 thereby connect- Q e 3 showing further structural details of the P g ing the contact elements or prongs 52 to the lead wires construction; a 16, Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing the spe- Adjacent the offset portion 54 of the prong 62, an c ific construction of the fastening screw together with its aperture 68 is provided for receiving the projection 32 in association with one of the contact elements; and the grooves 23 in the housing 13. Since the prongs 52- Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the central body are resilient and generally outwardly bowed, it will be Unit States e ent'fi' member with the contact elements removed therefrom an inwardly extending peripheral flange at one end thereof which defines an opening 22 for permitting passage of the lead wires 16. The other end of the tubular member 18 is open as generally indicated by the numeral 24.

seen that the bowed portion or offset portion 54 will be Patented Mar. 12,

and showing the orientation of the screw-threaded bores J -"therein as well as the contact element receiving grooves.

, Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be received within the grooves 28 and guided thereby. As the body member 36 is inserted into the housing 18, the projections 32 will be received in the apertures 68 thereby trical connecting plug construction of the present invention which includes an outside housing generally designated by the numeral 12 and an inner central body member generally designated by the numeral 14 for attachment to a pair of lead wires 16.

The outer housing 12 is generally in the form of a tubular cylindrical member 18 of insulating material having seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the eleclocking the housing 18 and the central body member 36 in assembled relation. When it is desired to disassemble the central body member 36 from the housing 18, it is only necessary to squeeze inwardly the remote end of the prongs 52 thereby disengaging the lugs or projections 32 from the apertures 68.

It will be understood that the housing 18 and the central member 36 both may be constructed of insulating n mas atet alaed he. P TQl Q QH 32 s. an integral Portion of the housing Therefore, it will readily be seen that the only metallic elements of the device are the p on s 2 a dt e s er hr aded fa ner 6 Also t e device. may e ut l d onjun ion h; n nin l ted ire and flat cre may; e substituted o he pointed, screws; 60. Also, it will be, noted that the, screwthreaded bores 6 are disposed in angular relation to. the radius or transverse a ds or the body member 36 whereby thescrew-threaded member willbe provided with a. longer screw-threaded bore 64 tfcr more; secure locking engagement with. the. terminal ends 44 of thelead wires 16.

'Ehepm s 5% a e pr v ed. th n in d en d e 5 f r; wedgi se a ement i a m a y h pe c s n, the, body member 6 preven h pmn s m t r inw r ly when press re app ie to the p ong Thjs will relieve: any pressure on the screw fasteners and assure the spring action of the prongs for retaining the apertures 63 securely positioned; over the lugs 32.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles; of the invention.v Further, since numerous odific t o and han e l ea ly Q Q to, se skilled; in the art, itis not desired to, limit the invention to, the exact construction, and operation shown and dc -v scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope. of; the appended claims.

What is claimed asnew is as follows:

l. An electrical connector plug comprising an outer cylindrical tubular housing of insulating material, said housing haying open end portions, a central body member received within said housing, a pair of contact elements secured to said; body member and projecting. longitudinally from one end thereof, means interconnecting the contact elements and the housing for removably retaining-the body member within said housing, said means being disposed adjacent said one end of said body memher, and means. adjacent the other end of said body mem' her for connecting lead wire t said each of said contact elements, said wire connecting means including a pair of longitudinal sockets in the end of the body member for receiving terminal ends of the wires said body having a. pair; of screw-threaded bores communicating with said sockets, and a pointed screw fastener connected to each of said contact elements and threaded into said bores with the pointed ends thereof penetrating the insulation on the insulated wire thereby electrically connecting the wires to the contact elements, said threaded bores and screw fasteners being disposed in angular relation to the transverse axis of said body member.

2. An electrical connectorplug comprising an outer cylindrical tubular housing of insulating material, said housing having open end portions, a central body member received within said housing, a pair of contact elements secured to said body member and projecting longitudinally from one end thereof, means interconnecting the contact elements, and the housing for removably retaining the body member within said housing, said means einad pese adj n a d. ne-r d of id dy 111mber, and means adjacent the other end of said body member for connecting lead wire to said each of said contact elements, said wire connecting means including a pair of longitudinal sockets in the end of the body member for receiving terminal ends of the wires said body having a pair of screw-threaded bores communicating with said sockets, and a pointed screw fastener connected to each of said contact elements and threaded into said bores with the pointed ends thereof penetrating the insulation on the insulated wire thereby electrically connecting the wires to the contact elements, said threaded bores and screw fasteners being disposed in angular relation to the transverse axis of said body member, said contact elements being generaly in the form of resilient prongs having a p e h einand n mally e a i the inner surface of said housing, said housing having a groove on the inner surface thereof for guiding the prongs during assembly of the body member in the housing, and an inwardly extending projection in each of said grooves for releasable engagement in said apertures in the prongs.

3'. An electrical connector plug comprising an outer cylindrical tubular housing of insulating material, said o s ng, ha ng, p nv end Po ions ntral b ym a ber received within said housing, a pair" of contact ele' ments secured to said body member and projecting lon i n y from e ndv he e f ans nt rconn ctin the contact elements andthe housing for removably r e. taining the body member within said housing, said: means being disposed adjacent said one end; of said body member, and; means adjacent the other endof said body member for connecting lead; wire to said each: of said contact elements, said wire connecting means including a pair of longitudinal sockets; in the end of the body member for receiving terminal ends of the. wires saidbody having. a pair of screw-threaded bores communieating with said; sockets, and a pointedscrew fastener connected to each of said contact elements and threaded into said bores with the pointed ends thereof penetrating the insulation on the insulated wirev thereby electrically connecting the wires to the contact elements, said; threaded bores and screw fasteners being disposed, in angular relation to the transverse axis of said bodymemher, said contact; elements being generally in the form of resilient prongs having; an aperture therein and normally engaging the inner surface of said; housing, said housing having a groove on the inner surface thereof for guiding the prongs; during assembly of the body m m in he o si and n n ardly ext ndi P ojection, in each of said grooves for releasable engagement in said apertures in the prongs, said housing having an inturncd peripheral flange at the end; thereof adjacentthe lead wires thereby forming an opening for passage of the lead wires so that the lead wires may be knotted for preventing accidental disengagement of the lead wires; from the body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent T D ST ES PATENTS 

